Abstract

The structure of the nine-vertex arachno-thiadicarbaborane C2SB6H10 has been established employing the ab initio/IGLO/NMR method. Theoretical IGLO 11B chemical shifts support C and S atom placements at the 4, 6 and 8 positions, respectively, and unambiguously rule out the 4,6,5-C2SB6H10 structural alternative, suggested earlier on the basis of IR and Raman spectroscopy. Important structural features of the 4,6,8-C2SB6H10 geometry include a small B(7)-S(8)-B(9) angle (MP2(fc)/6-31G*: 97.9°) and long S-B bonds (MP2(fc)/6-31G*: 1.905 and 1.924 Å) compared to B-B bonds spanning the 1.71-1.85 Å range.